This photograph, from 1940, is part of New York City’s vast collection of 1940 tax photos.  In 1940, the city took on an ambitious project of photographing each tax lot within the city.  Fortunately for us, these now historic photographs help us to see how neighborhood looked more than 70 years ago.

The shot here is of Myrtle Avenue, the south side of the street between Waverly and Washington Avenue.  The storefront on the right, with all of the small glass panes, is now home to the new Optical Gallery.  Next door to the left, today you will find Thai 101 Bistro and Clinton Hill Hardware.  The storefronts have changed a lot of the years, and the Myrtle Avenue “el” train is now gone, but what you can still find today is the beautiful cast iron facade at 448 Myrtle Avenue.

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